The Witness (Badge of Honor 4)

“Hey, you’re supposed to be on my side,” Lowenstein protested.

“I am a simple man of God trying my very best to bring peace between the warring factions,” Kuntz said piously.

“I think you have your work cut out for you,” Eleanor said.

Lowenstein handed her a glass of wine, and then turned to O’Hara.

“Okay. What else have you got me that somebody else paid for?”

O’Hara took an envelope from his inside jacket pocket and handed it to him. Lowenstein, suspiciously, took it from the envelope and unfolded it. Then his expression changed.

“What the hell is this?”

“It was delivered to the Bulletin, left with the girl downstairs in an envelope marked ‘urgent.’”

“Where’s the envelope?” Lowenstein snapped.

“With the original. You did notice that was a copy?”

“Where’s the original?”

“I had a messenger take it, and the envelope, to Homicide.” Lowenstein handed the sheet of paper to Kuntz.

ISLAMIC LIBERATION ARMY

There Is No God But God,

And Allah Is His N

ame

PRESS RELEASE:

Be advised that the events at Goldblatt’s Furniture Store today were conducted by troops of the Islamic Liberation Army.

It was the first battle of many to follow against the infidel sons of Zion, who for too long have victimized the African Brothers (Islamic and other) and other minorities of Philadelphia.

Death to the Zionist oppressors of our people!

Freedom Now!

Muhammed el Sikkim

Chief of Staff

Islamic Liberation Army

“What in the world is this?” Kuntz asked when he had read it.

“There was a robbery, and a murder, at Goldblatt’s furniture store on South Street this afternoon,” Lowenstein said.

“But what’s this?”

“The Islamic Liberation Army just confessed to the job,” O’Hara said dryly.

“What’s the Islamic Liberation Army?” Kuntz asked.

“Offhand,” Lowenstein said, “I would guess it’s half a dozen schwartzer stickup artists who saw Malcolm X on TV, smoked some funny cigarettes, and then went to Sears, Roebuck and bought themselves bathrobes.”